Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALDEMCEP’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALDEMCEP’, particularly characterized by having white flowers, 2 to 5 peduncles, an inflorescence that is long and moderate, leaves that are narrow and obovate, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALDEMCEP’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PHALDEMCEP’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 60 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivar in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 12 to 20 cm to over 60 cm. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes or panicles, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petals, called the labellum, are three-lobed and are often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow, and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plants and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDEMCEP’ is particularly characterized by its attractive and unique white flowers, economical propagation by tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

‘PHALDEMCEP’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALDEMCEP’ originated from a cross made in November 2000 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The female parent is a Phalaenopsis pot plant named ‘07693-0015’ (unpatented), while the male parent is a Phalaenopsis pot plant named ‘07693-0004’ (unpatented). A single plant was selected in February 2007 and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by meristem tissue culture in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands over a 5-year period. The new variety has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Asexual reproduction of ‘PHALDEMCEP’ by tissue culture was first performed in April 2010 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and has demonstrated that the new cultivar is firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europe on Apr. 25, 2014. ‘PHALDEMCEP’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

-   -   1) White flowers;     -   2) 2 to 5 peduncles;     -   3) Inflorescence is long and moderate;     -   4) Shape of the leaf is narrow and obovate; and     -   5) Plants are propagated by meristem tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, buds and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a 50-week old plant grown in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in April 2015.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliage of ‘PHALDEMCEP’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALDEMCEP’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALDEMCEP’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHALDEMCEP’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 50-week old plants which were planted from a nursery tray in 12 centimeter pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C. Observations were made in April 2015. Color readings were taken under 4-6000 lux natural light in the greenhouse. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.         -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.         -   Common name.—Moth Orchid.         -   Variety name.—‘PHALDEMCEP’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘07693-0015’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘07693-0004’             (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture. -   Plant:     -   -   Crop time (time to produce a finished flowering plant).—48             to 50 weeks for a 12 cm pot.         -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, raceme to             panicle.         -   Height (including pot, including inflorescence).—50.0 cm to             60.0 cm.         -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—28.0 cm to 33.0 cm.         -   Vigor.—Moderate. -   Roots:     -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green-colored roots (RHS 190B/C)             with branching lateral roots having green and brown colored             root tips (RHS 144A and 200B). -   Leaves:     -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 8 to 10 leaves are             produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 14.0 cm             to 18.0 cm. Width: 6.0 cm to 7.0 cm. Position of broadest             part of leaf: Towards the apex. Shape: Obovate. Base shape:             Moderately elongated. Apex: Unequal obtuse. Leaf blade angle             with the petiole (measured from the horizontal position):             Between 40 degrees and 70 degrees. Leaf margin: Entire.             Color: Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS 147B.             Variegation: Absent. Texture (upper and lower surfaces):             Smooth. Thickness: 2.5 mm to 2.7 mm. Venation: Pattern:             Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper surface: RHS 147A.             Lower surface: RHS 147B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—2 to 5.         -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—6 to 10.         -   Length.—41.0 cm to 51.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—5.1 mm to 5.5 mm.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Green (RHS 146A).         -   Internode length.—30.0 mm to 40.0 mm.         -   Callosities.—None. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme to panicle             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 120.0 mm to             170.0 mm. Diameter: 3.3 mm to 3.5 mm.         -   Number of inflorescences per plant.—1 to 5.         -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11             months after planting in a 12 cm pot.         -   Flower.—Height: 68.0 mm to 73.0 mm. Diameter: 77.0 mm to             82.0 mm. Depth of lip: 19.0 mm to 21.0 mm.         -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 15 to 22 weeks.         -   Flower shape.—Flat.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flower bud.—Average size: Medium. Length: 1.6 cm to 2.0 cm.             Width: 1.4 cm to 1.7 cm. Shape: Egg shape. Color: Green (RHS             145C and 149C) with slightly greyed-purple over color (RHS             186B).         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:             Emarginated and slightly asymmetric. Margin: Entire. Length             (from base to tip): 37.0 mm to 39.0 mm. Width: 39.0 mm to             41.0 mm. Position of broadest part of petal: Towards the             base. Color (when fully opened): Main color: White (RHS             155C). At the base: White (RHS 155C). Over color: Absent.             Netting of the petals: None.         -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Mucronate. Margin:             Entire. Length (from base to tip): 39.0 mm to 41.0 mm.             Width: 24.0 mm to 26.0 mm. Position of broadest part of             dorsal sepal: At the middle. Color (when fully opened): Main             color: White (RHS 155C). At the base: White (RHS 155C). Over             color: Absent. Netting of the dorsal sepal: None.         -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse and slightly             asymmetric. Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 40.0             mm to 42.0 mm. Width: 24.0 mm to 26.0 mm. Position of             broadest part of lateral sepal: Towards the base. Color             (when fully opened): Main color: White (RHS 155C). At the             base: White (RHS 155C). Over color: Absent. Netting of the             lateral sepal: None.         -   Labellum (lip).—Margin: Entire. Shape: Spatulate. Pubescence             on the lip: Absent. Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers:             Medium (1.0 cm to 1.2 cm). Color of whiskers: White (RHS             155C) with yellow tips (RHS 10B).         -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type V (as described in the             International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of             Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); spatulate.             Length: 20.0 mm to 22.0 mm. Width: 15.0 mm to 17.0 mm.             Color: White (RHS 155C) with upper edge green-yellow (RHS             1A) and red-purple stripes towards the callus (RHS 71A).             Netting of the lateral lobe: None.         -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular/trullate. Length: 18.0 mm to             20.0 mm. Width: 25.0 mm to 27.0 mm. Color: White (RHS 155C)             and yellow toward the callus (RHS 2A). Netting of the apical             lobe: None.         -   Callus.—Average size: Medium. Height: 7.0 mm to 8.0 mm.             Length: 5.0 mm to 6.0 mm. Width: 4.0 mm to 4.5 mm. Color:             Yellow (RHS 5B) and greyed-orange spots (RHS 173B). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present.         -   Column.—Length: 9.0 mm to 10.0 mm. Diameter: 5.5 mm to             6.5 mm. Color: White (RHS 155C).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Size: 1.1 mm to 1.3 mm. Color: Orange             (RHS 25A).         -   Ovary.—Part of the pedicel with small ribs towards the             column. Length: 9.0 mm to 11.0 mm. Diameter: 2.3 mm to 2.5             mm.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 31.0 mm to 33.0 mm. Diameter: 2.7 mm to             2.9 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color: Green (RHS 144B) at the base             to light green (RHS 144D). -   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed.

Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of 15° C. and a high temperature about 30° C.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

The parental varieties of ‘PHALDEMCEP’ are no longer available for comparison.

‘PHALDEMCEP’ differs from commercial variety ‘PHALBAPAK’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALDEMCEP’ has a callus with smaller and lighter colored dots and more narrow petals, whereas ‘PHALBAPAK’ has a callus with larger and darker colored dots and slightly wider petals. Additionally, the back of the dorsal sepal of ‘PHALDEMCEP’ is white, whereas the back of the dorsal sepal of ‘PHALBAPAK’ is light lilac. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALDEMCEP’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 